Composition for Treating Dehydration in Large Mammals

Abstract

A re-hydration supplement composition particularly suitable to counteract dehydration stresses in mature bovine mammals in the form of a pelletized feed supplement is disclosed which includes relatively large fractions of carbohydrates including saccharides, cationic and anionic electrolytes and a minor amount of betaine osmolyte. A process for pelleting is also disclosed.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A feed supplement composition for the prevention and treatment of dehydration in large mammals, including mature bovines, comprising:
 (a) components selected from processed grain and grain bi-products;   (b) a plurality of saccharides selected from monosaccharides and disaccharides;   (c) a plurality of re-hydration electrolytes, including anion and cation electrolytes;   (d) one or more flavoring and pH adjustment components; and   (e) a minor amount of betaine osmolyte.   
     
     
         37 . A composition as in  claim 36  wherein the composition is in pellet form. 
     
     
         38 . A composition as in  claim 37  further comprising an amount of pellet binder and a coating agent. 
     
     
         39 . A composition as in  claim 38  wherein said coating agent includes calcium silicate. 
     
     
         40 . A composition as in  claim 36  wherein said processed grain and grain bi-products include wheat middlings and cracked cereal fines. 
     
     
         41 . A composition as in  claim 40  including an amount of alfalfa meal. 
     
     
         42 . A composition as in  claim 36  including an amount of citric acid. 
     
     
         43 . A composition as in  claim 36  wherein the amount of said electrolytes is from about 3.5% to about 27%. 
     
     
         44 . A composition as in  claim 43  wherein the amount of said electrolytes is from about 8% to about 15%. 
     
     
         45 . A composition as in  claim 36  wherein the cations include cations selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium and the anions include anions selected from the group consisting of bicarbonate, chloride, phosphate and sulfate. 
     
     
         46 . A composition as in  claim 36  wherein the plurality of re-hydration electrolytes includes the following:
 Sodium Chloride from about 1.25% to about 3.75%;   Potassium Chloride from about 1.25% to about 7.5%;   Potassium Carbonate from about 0.5% to about 5%;   Calcium Carbonate from about 0.25% to about 5%;   Calcium Lactate from about 0.05% to about 0.5%;   Dipotassium Phosphate from about 0.025% to about 0.25%;   Monosodium Phosphate from about 0.05% to about 0.5%;   Magnesium Oxide from about 0.005% to about 0.5%; and   Magnesium Sulfate, 9.8% from about 0.1% to about 0.75%.   
     
     
         47 . A composition as in  claim 36  wherein said saccharides include both mono-saccharides and disaccharides. 
     
     
         48 . A composition as in  claim 47  wherein the amount of saccharides is from about 3.5% to about 60%. 
     
     
         49 . A composition as in  claim 48  wherein the amount of saccharides is about 14%. 
     
     
         50 . A composition as in  claim 36  wherein said monosaccharides include dextrose and fructose and said disaccharides include sucrose and lactose. 
     
     
         51 . A composition as in  claim 48  wherein said monosaccharides include dextrose and fructose and said disaccharides include sucrose and lactose. 
     
     
         52 . A composition as in  claim 36  including an amount of bovine milk calcium in the form of tricalcium phosphate. 
     
     
         53 . A composition as in  claim 52  wherein said tricalcium phosphate is from 0.1% to about 12% (weight). 
     
     
         54 . A composition as in  claim 50  in pellet form wherein the saccharides are not carmelized. 
     
     
         55 . A feed supplement composition for the prevention and treatment of dehydration in large mammals, including mature bovines, comprising:
 (a) grain and grain bi-products selected from the group consisting of wheat middlings, cooked cereal fines and alfalfa meal, said processed grain and grain bi-products being present in a total amount of at least 25%;   (b) a plurality of saccharides comprising monosaccharides and disaccharides in a total amount from about 3.5% to about 60%;   (c) a plurality of re-hydration electrolytes including anion electrolytes including anions selected from the group consisting of bicarbonate, chloride, phosphate and sulfate and cation electrolytes including cations selected from the group consisting of sodium potassium, magnesium and calcium, wherein said total amount of said electrolytes is from about 3.5% to about 27%;   (d) an amount of flavoring and pH adjustment components; and   (e) a minor amount of betaine osmolyte for electrolyte level or cell concentration control.   
     
     
         56 . A composition as in  claim 55  wherein said monosaccharides include dextrose and fructose and said disaccharides include sucrose and lactose. 
     
     
         57 . A composition as in  claim 55  wherein the composition is in pellet form and including an amount of pellet binder and a coating agent. 
     
     
         58 . A composition as in  claim 55  wherein said flavoring and pH adjustment components include citric acid. 
     
     
         59 . A composition as in  claim 55  wherein said amount of saccharides is about 14% and wherein said total electrolyte level is from about 8% to about 15%. 
     
     
         60 . A composition as in  claim 55  wherein the plurality of re-hydration electrolytes includes the following:
 Sodium Chloride from about 1.25% to about 3.75%;   Potassium Chloride from about 1.25% to about 7.5%;   Potassium Carbonate from about 0.5% to about 5%;   Calcium Carbonate from about 0.25% to about 5%;   Calcium Lactate from about 0.05% to about 0.5%;   Dipotassium Phosphate from about 0.025% to about 0.25%;   Monosodium Phosphate from about 0.05% to about 0.5%;   Magnesium Oxide from about 0.005% to about 0.5%; and   Magnesium Sulfate, 9.8% from about 0.1% to about 0.75%.   
     
     
         61 . A pelletized feed supplement composition for the treatment of dehydration comprising:
 (a) grain and grain bi-products comprising wheat middlings, cooked cereal fines and alfalfa meal, said processed grain and grain bi-products being present in a total amount of at least 25%;   (b) a plurality of saccharides comprising monosaccharides selected from dextrose and fructose and disaccharides selected from sucrose and lactrose in a total amount from about 3.5% to about 60%;   (c) a plurality of re-hydration electrolytes including a plurality of anion electrolytes including bicarbonate, chloride, phosphate and sulfate anions and cation electrolytes including sodium potassium, magnesium and calcium cations, wherein said total amount of said electrolytes is from about 3.5% to about 27%;   (d) an amount of flavoring and pH adjustment components comprising an amount of citric acid from about 0.5% to about 5%;   (e) a minor amount of betaine osmolyte for electrolyte level or cell concentration control; and   (f) an amount of pellet binder and a coating agent.